Hair Stylist Resume Example

The job outlook for cosmetologists is sitting around 13% and on pace with the national average. A hair stylist’s salary largely depends on the state they work in and their level of experience. Hair dressers can make anywhere between $16,000 (entry-level) to $43,000 (experienced). Based on the number of opportunities, Washington D.C., New York, Texas, California, and Florida are the best places for new stylists to find a job.

The most lucrative hair stylist opportunities are given to those with a vast knowledge of haircare services. Being a professional hair dresser requires you to keep up with continually changing fashion trends and styles.

Customer service skills are also an absolute necessity in order to survive within the field of cosmetology. The best hair stylists are able to use their customer service abilities to build up a loyal customer base over time. Loyal clientele is every stylists dream as it is highly valued by salons and results in a consistent stream of business.

However, before you can build up a list of clients, you’ll have to start out at the bottom of the totem pole like everyone else. Finding a position at the right spa or salon is key to getting your career started off on the right track. To get the interest of the hottest salons in your area, you’ll need a hair stylist resume that is properly shampooed and blow-dried.

1. Additional Skills and Certifications

The most important piece of information that hiring managers want to know is whether or not you have a license to practice cosmetology in your state.

Each state has their own specific requirements, but the average amount of hours you can expect to spend is between 1,500-2,100. The process usually consists of attending a certified school, hands-on training, and passing a state exam. Each state has their own unique process, and may substitute taking classes with an apprenticeship. It’s important that you do your research, so that you are aware of all the necessary requirements.

The additional skills section can be the difference maker in whether or not you get called in for an interview. Take advantage of this section of your resume by including any specialized hair care techniques that you excel at. Some of these skills and techniques may include:

• Balayage coloring
• Applying hair extensions
• Brazilian blowouts
• Face waxing
• Conditioning
• Massage

Another qualification you will see on most hair stylist job postings is the ability to lift and carry anywhere between 25-50lbs. This requirement pertains to stocking and merchandising the salon or spa, which is an administrative job duty for hair stylists.

2. Addressing the Needs of the Employer

To maximize your odds of getting an interview you must customize your resume to each position you apply for. Not every company requires the same amount of experience and skills—a hair stylist at one company may not have to perform the same tasks at another. Spend a few minutes picking apart each job description to find exactly what the employer is looking for in a candidate. This is a great way to help you decide what to include in your own professional experience section.

Take a look at this responsibilities section of a real hair stylist job posting:

Each bullet point serves as a clue to what the hiring manager is looking for on your resume. As you can see in the first point, the company lists out several haircare tasks that they require. So if you have experience with “blow drying, styling, hair treatments, up-dos, etc” then make sure to include it throughout your resume. Compare the company’s bullet point to this one found in the hair stylist resume sample above:

• Provide 6+ technical haircare services, including, but not limited to straightening, coloring, balayage, foiling, special occasion hair, and cutting.

Notice how the sample’s point uses a similar format to that of the employer’s. The job candidate does not simply copy the job description, but instead includes their own relevant haircare techniques.

For an additional example, compare the employer’s point…

• Make product recommendations and promote product sales

…with the job candidate’s tailored point:

• Cross-sell multiple brands and beauty categories (makeup, skin care, hair, etc.) resulting in a 10% monthly sales increase.

As you can see here, the candidate doesn’t use the same format, but still addresses the employer’s need for someone who can “promote product sales.” The applicant does this by showing their accomplishments in their resume by quantifying their bullet point with the measurable statistic “increased sales by 10%.”

Adding a statistic is always more effective than merely saying “increased sales.” The more you tailor your resume to the job description with quantified stats sprinkled through, the more likely you are to gain the attention of the hiring manager.

3. Action Verbs for a hair stylist resume

There’s plenty more where that came from. We’ve got all the resume verbs you need.

Final Words

The key to an effective hair stylist resume is being able to show off the full range of your talents, while at the same time meeting the needs of a specific employer. If you can do both, your resume will have salons begging for your haircare expertise.

Make sure to check out our blog to keep up with all the latest resume trends — and our hair stylist cover letter for help with the next stage of your application.

Good luck on the job hunt!

Additional Resources for Hair Stylists

• Cosmetology Licenses By State: Beauty Schools Directory – Find out your state’s specific cosmetology license requirements
• Salary & Wage statistics for stylist: Recruiter.com –  Hair dresser salary and hourly rates by state